Tank outlet unit



March 2, 1943. R. SOUCEK TANK OUTLET-UNIT Filed Feb. 20, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 March 2,, 1943,. v R. SOUCEK TANK OUTLET mm Filed 3%. 20, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 u ummm fiZUenZZr ?aienied Mar. 2?, i943 TANK ouras'r um'r Romus Soucek, Whittier, Califi, assignor to Vu tee Aircraft, linc., Vultee Field, Calif., a corporation of Delaware I Application February 20,1942, SerialNo. 431,692

8 Claims.

The present invention relates generally to outlet units for tanks. More particularly the invention relates to that type of outlet unit which is for use in connection with a tank for supplying oil, fuel, or other liquid, to one of the operating parts of an airplane, such, for example, as the propeller driving engine and comprises a valve housing connected to the normal bottom of the tank and having a first inlet in communication with the tank interior at a point directly above the normal'tank bottom, a second inlet leading to the tank interior at a point beneath the normal top of the tank, and an outlet leading from the discharge ends of the two inlets to an engine driven pump, and also comprises a gravity responsive valveelement which is disposed within the housing, operates automatically to establish communication between the first inlet and theoutlet and close the second inlet during normal flight maneuvers of the airplane and also to close the first inlet and open the second inlet in connection with inverted flight of the airplane, and hence serves to pro vide an uninterrupted flow of liquid to the engine regardless of the position of the tank and, in addition, to form a seal for preventing the pump from sucking air through the inlet having its inlet end above the surface of the liquid in the tank.

One object of the invention is to provide a tank outlet unit of this type which is an imnormally downwardly facing valve seat at the discharge end of the first inlet and a normally upwardly facing valve seat at the discharge end of the second inlet and beneath and in spaced,

relation with the downwardly facing seat, and the gravity responsive or actuated valve element ,or means for connecting the outlet to either inlet,

depending upon the position of the tank, is in the iormof a single ball type valve which'is mounted in the housing between the two seats,

and is so arranged with respect to the outlet that the impact pressure of the liquid flowing from the open inlet to the outlet acts against it in the same direction as the force of gravity and hence assures proper seating of the valve with respect to the seat for the closed inlet.

Another object of the invention is to provide acter in which the ball valve constituting the gravity responsive or actuated valve means for selectively or alternately controlling the two inlets, depending upon the condition of tilt of the tank, is provided with a normally depending pendulum type weight which extends through the portion of the discharge end of the second inlet that is normally beneath the upwardly facing valveseat and serves so to transfer the center of gravity of the valve in connection with all angles of positive acceleration climb, dive and.

bank of the airplane that the center of gravity is so located as to cause the valve to remain properly seated against the lower or upwardly facing valve seat.

A further object of the invention is to provide a tank outlet unit of the type under consideration in which the inlet end of the second inlet is in the form of a standpipe which normally extends substantially vertically within the tank and has at its upper end a swivel type auxiliary inlet pipe section which extends slightly downwards during normal flight attitudesof the airplane and swings toward the normal top of the tank'in connection with inverted flight of the airplane.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tank outlet unit which is generally an improvement in the art and is characterized by simplicity of design and construction and efiiciency of operation.

Other objects of the invention and the various advantages and characteristics of the present tank outlet unit will be apparent from a consideration of the'following detailed description.

The invention consists in the several novel features which are hereinafter set forth and are more particularly defined by claims at the conclusion hereof. v p

In the drawings which accompany and form a part of this specification or disclosure and in which like letters and numerals of reference denote corresponding parts throughout the several views:

Figure 1 is a section showing an outlet unit embodying the invention in operative or connected. relation with a tank for supplying oil to an airplane engine;

a tank outlet 'unit of the last mentioned char- I58 Figure 2 is an. enlarged section showing the unit in the position which it assumes when the airplane is flying in an inverted manner;

Figure 3 is a side view of theimproved unit; and v Figure 4 is a plan view illustrating in detail the swivel type oonnectionfor the swing type t at the bottom margin thereof.

ingsiconstitutes the preferred form or embodiment of the invention. It is illustrated in connec-' tion with, and as forming a part of, a tank T for supplying oil to an airplane engine E. The tank, together with the unit, serves as part of an oil circulating system for the engine and comprises a continuous side wall t having an out-turned flange The top or upper portion of the tank T is closed in any suitable manner, such, for example, as illustrated in Figure 1. The improved outlet unit is located at the normal bottom of the tank T andconsists of a valve housing 5 and a gravity responsive or actuated valve 5. a

The valve housing 5'is preferably in the form of a casting of aluminum or other suitable light material and has at the upper portion thereof a fiat wall I. This wall is shaped conformably to the bottom of the tank T and has the marginal portion thereof removably secured to the outtumed flange t by bolts or other connecting devices. A gasket 8 is interposed between the mar-v ginal portion of the wall 1 and the out-turned flange t in order to prevent leakage of oil between the bottom portion of the tank and the valve housing 5. The central portion of the wall 1 of the valve housing is provided with a pair of side by side comparatively short upstanding annular bosses 9 and I0. Both oi. these bosses lead downwards to, and communicate with, themterior of the valve housing. The boss 9 is disposed within the lower portion of the tank T and has a nipple I I associated with it. This nipple extends normally substantially vertically and, '00-.

gether with the annularboss 9, constitutes a first or low level inlet l2 between the tank and the valve housing 5. The lower end of the nipple fits within the boss 9 and is removably secured to the latter by a screw thread connection I3. The

outer periphery of the upper end of the nipple is tank. The lower end of the nipple H is beveled or chamfered so as to form a downwardly facing valve seat I5 at the lower or discharge end of the first inlet l2.

The interior of the valve housing 5 is provided with, and divided by, an integral step-shaped cross web 16. This cross web consists of a normally vertical lower part H, a normally vertical the two valve seats.

laterally ofiset upper part l8, and a normally hori- I zontal intermediate part l9 between and cross connecting the upper end oi the lower part l and the lower end of the upper part I 8. The intermediate part l9 of thEwCl-OSS web is located directly beneath and spaced from the first inlet l2 and has an upwardly extending valve seat 20 in axial alignment with the downwardly facing valve seat I5 at the lower discharge end of the first inlet l2. The upper part iii of the cross web depends from the wall I of the valve housing at a point midway between the two bosses 9 and Ill and it, together with the bottom face of the intermediate part l9 and the immediately adjacent portion of the side wall of the valve hous- The upwardly facing valve seat 20 is at the discharge end of the second inlet 23, as clearly shown in Figure 3. The standpipe 22 is axially aligned with, and constitutes a continuation of, the annular boss Ill. The lower end of the standpipe is provided with an outwardly extending right angle flange 24 and this is removably secured to the top fac of the boss M by an annular serie of municates with the discharge ends of the first.

and second inlets l2 and 23 by way of the valve seats l5 and 20 and leads to, and discharges into, A

a tubular outlet extension 21 at one side oithe valve housing 5. A pipe or conduit 28 extends between, and is connected to, the outlet extension 21 and the suction side of a pump 29. .The latter is associated with, and driven by, the engine E and operates in connection with operation of the engineto draw oil from the tank T via the outlet unit and'supply it under pressure to the engine.

The 011, after being delivered to the engine, is

returned to the top of the tank T by way of a i return pipe or conduit 90, includingan oil cooler 3i.

The valve 9 is ball shaped and serves selectively or alternately to close the valve seats I 5 and 29, depending upon the positionor degree of tilt of the tank T. It is loosely mounted in the outlet 29 and is movable back and forth between 7 As shown in the drawings, the valve 8 is so shaped that when in seated relation with either valve seat it forms an efllcient seal or closure. When the airplane with which the engine E is associated is subjected to normal flight maneuvers or attitudes the valve 8, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, is caused by the action of gravity to seat against the upwardly facing valve seat 20 and close the discharge end of the second or high level inlet 23; The valve 5 is formed of any. suitable material having a greater specific gravity than that of the oil which is supplied by the tank T to the engine via the improved outlet unit. .When the valve is in seated relation with the upwardly facing valve seat 20 and the second or high level inlet 29 is hence closed, oil is permitted to flow from the tank to the outlet 25 via the first or low level inlet I2 which, as previously pointed out, com-v municates with the tank interior at a point. adjacent the normal bottom of the tank. With i such an arrangement of the valve the inlet 23 is the airplane assumes an inverted flight attitude,

the valve 9, due to the action of gravity, moves into seated relation with the valve seat l5 and results in closing of the inlet [2 and opening of the inlet 29. When the inlet I2 is closed and the inlet 23 is open due to inversion of the airplane,

oil is drawn into the outlet 26 via the inlet 29 garages and the inlet i2 is sealed by the valve and hence no air is drawn into the outlet should the inlet end of the inlet l2 be above the'level of the oil in the tank. By employing a single valve and valve seats which face one another and arranging the valve seats as shown in the drawings the impact pressure on the valve 6 due to the flow of oil into the outlet 25 acts in the same direction as the force of gravity and thereby assures proper seating characteristics so far as the valve is concerned. In this connection it is to be noted that when the valve 6 is in seated relation with the valve seat' 20 due to the airplane being flown at normal flight attitudes the oil flowing into the outlet 26 via the inlet [2 impinges against the valve 6 and hence augments the action of gravity in maintaining the valve in seated relation with the valve seat 21?. When the airplane is in an inverted attitude of flight and the valve 6 is hence positioned in seated relation with the valve seat 15 the oil flowing into the outlet 26 via the inlet 23 impinges against the valve and thus, together with the action of gravity, maintains the valve in proper or accurate seated relation with the seat l5. Due to the action of the valve 9 there is always an unrestricted or uninterrupted flow of oil into the outlet 25 regardless of the position or angle of tilt of the tank T and no air above the level of the body of the oil in the tank is permitted to be drawn into the outlet. In assembling the outlet unit the valve 5 is inserted into the outlet 25 via the annular boss i prior to connection of the nipple H to the boss. In the event that it is desired to remove the valve for inspection or repair purposes it is only necessary after removal of the unit from the tank to remove the nipple H from the boss 9. Upon removal of the nipple from the boss 9 the valve may be removed from the outlet 26 by inverting the valve housing 5.

The Valve t is provided with a normally depending pendulum type weight 32. This weight comprises a stem 33. and a head 35. The upper end of the stem 33 is connected to the valve 8 and the lower end of the stem is connected to the central portion of the head 36. As shown in Figure 3, the stem extends radially with respect to the valve and projects through the short leg of the passage 2! constituting the discharge end of the second or high level inlet 23. The head so is disposed within a cylindrical or tubular extension 35 at the bottom of the valve housing 5. Such extension has an open bottom and this is normally closed by a plate 38 which is removably secured in place by an annular series of 'cap screws 3?... When the plate 35 is removed from its normal or operative position oil may be drained from the second or high level inlet 23. The head 34} of the pendulum type weight 32 is disc-like so far as contour or conformation is concerned and is of less diameter than the inner periphery of the cylindrical extension 35 at the bottom of the valve housing 5 in order that the weight is free to move laterally to a limited extent. Preferably the weight 33 and the valve 6 are integral. The weight serves as a medium for holding the valve in seated relation with the seat 23 at the discharge end of the inlet 23 in connection with all, angles of positive acceleration climb, dive and bank of the airplane. If the airplane assumes a bankor a positive angle of dive or climb in connection with flight the pen- ,dulum type weight swings or moves within the extension 35 and so changes the center of gravity of the valve 5 that the valve is effectively and socket in the fitting dd.

part I9 of the cross web l l in the valve housing 5.

In order to increase the efiiciency of the unit when the airplane is subjected to extremely se- Vere operating conditions the standpipe 22 is providd at its upper end with an inlet type auxiliary pipe section 38. This pipe section normally extends slightly downwards, as shown in Figures 1 and 3, and is connected to the upper end of the standpipe 22 by a pivot or swivel type connection so that when the tank is inverted in connection with-inverted flight attitude of the airplane it swings in the direction of the normally effective top of the tank. The pivot 01' swivel type connection comprises an elbow 39 on the upper end of the standpipe 22 and a fitting :18 on the proximal end of the pipe section 38. The elbow 39 embodies a depending branch di and a laterally extending branch 32?. The depending branch is connected bya screw thread connection to the upper end-of the standpipe. The laterally extending branch 432 of the elbow fits within a The fitting All and the laterally extending branch d2 of the elbow are suitably maintained in sealed relation and are so constructed that they effect communication between the inner end of the pipe section 33 and the upper end of the standpipe 22 while at the same time they permit swinging movement of the pipe section relatively to the standpipe. A lug $3 on the fitting at and a pair or coacting lugs Mon the laterally extending branch 52 of the elbow serve to limit the swinging movement of the pipe section relatively to the standpipe. When the tank T is in its normal position the pipe section 38 extends slightly downwards irom the upper end of the standpipe 22 as previously pointed out and as shown in Figures 1 and 3. If the level of the oil in the tank is above the upper end of the standpipe, that is, above the upper and of the elbow 39 and the fitting no air is permitted to be drawn into the outlet 2% even though the valve d is not in proper seated relation with the upwardly iacing valve seat Elli. Then the tank T is tilted upside down due to, the airplane being flown in an inverted position the pipe section 38 swings away from the normal bottom of the tank with the resuit that the] distal or inner end thereof is nearer to the bottom of the body of oil in the tank T. The pipe section at is formed of material having greater specific gravity than the oil in the tank and swings relatively to the standpipe 22 in response to the action of gravity.

The herein described tank outlet unit efiectively and efficiently fulfills its intended purpose and is characterized by the islet that it is simple in deslgn and construction and hencemay be manufactured at a low and reasonable cost. It is further characterizedby the fact that the valve and valve seat arrangement is such that the impact pressure of the oil flowing into the outlet 26 acts on the valve 6 in the same direction as the action of gravity and hence retains the valve in its closed or seated position.

Whereas the outlet unit has been'described in connection with a tank for supplying oil to an airplane engine it is to be understood that it inay Y be employed in connection with a tiltable tank for stood that the invention is not to be restricted to the details set forth since these may be modified within the scope of the appended claims without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Having thus described my invention what claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

@ prising means associated with the normal bottom of the tank and forming a J-shaped duct having the end of the short leg thereof communicating I 4- r 2,312,495 v toward one another and forming a liquid outlet with the tank interior near said normal bottom 4 mounted loosely in said space and adapted to seat against either seat, depending upon the angular position of the tank.

2. An outlet unit adapted for use in connection with a tiltable liquid containing tank and comprising means associated with the normal bottom of the tank and forming a J-shaped duct having the end of the short leg thereof communicating with the tank interior near said normal bottom and serving as a low level liquid inlet and the end of its long leg communicating with the interior of the tank at a point above the low level inlet and serving as a high level liquid inlet, a pair of spaced apart valve seats positioned in the short leg of the duct so that they face one another and constituting the discharge ends of the two inlets,

respectively, means forming a liquid outlet leading from the space in the duct between thevalve seats, a single gravity responsive valve in said space adapted to seat against either seat, depending upon the angular position of the tank, and provided with a normally depending weight 'extending through the valve seat constituting the outlet end of the high level liquid inlet.

- with the tank interior near said normalbottom and serving as a' low level liquid inlet and the end of its long leg communicating with the interior of the tank at a point above the low level inlet and serving as a high level liquid inlet, a pair of spaced apart annular valve seats positioned in the short leg of the duct so that they face one an-- other and constituting the discharge ends of-the two inlets, respectively, means forming a liquid outlet leading from the space in the duct between the valve seats, and a single gravity responsive ball type valve in said space adapted to seat against either seat, depending upon the angular position of the tank and provided with a normally depending pendulum type weight extending through the valve seat constituting the discharge therebetween, open ended hollow means leadl'nl from the upper seat into the tankinterior at a point adjacent said normal bottom and constituting a low level liquid inlet, a second open ended hollow means leading irom the lower valve seat into the tankinterior at a point an appreciable distance above said normal bottom and constituting a high level liquid inlet, anda gravity responsive valve loosely mountedin the outlet between the two valve seatsand adapted to seat against either seat, depending upon the degree of tilt of the'tank.

5. An outlet unit adapted for use in connection with a tiltable liquid containingt'ank and comprising a valve housing connected to the normal bottom of the tank and having a pair of vertically spaced valve seats therein facing toward one another and forming a liquid outlet therebetween, said housing also having a-welltype chamber directly beneath, and communi-' eating with, the lower valve seat, open-ended hollow means leading from the upper seat, into the tank interior ata point adjacent said normal bottom and constituting a low level liquid. inlet, a second open ended hollowmeans leading from the chamber into the tank interior at a point an appreciable distance above said normal bottom and constituting with said chamber a high level liquid inlet, and a gravityresponsive valve in the outlet between the two valve seats (adapted to seat against either valve, depending upon theangular position of the tank, and provided with a normally depending weight extending through the lower valve seat and intothe chamber and arranged to swing or move universally to a limited extent in the chamber.

6. An outlet unit adapted for use in connection with a tiltable liquid containing tank and comprising a valve housing connected to the normal bottom of the tank and having a pair of vertically spaced annular valve seats. therein facing toward one another and forming a liquid outlet therebetween, 'said' housing also having means forming a cylindrical chamber beneath,

and in communication with, the lower valve seat, open ended hollow means leading from the upper seat into the tank interior at a' point adjacent said normal bottom and constituting a low level inlet, a .second open ended hollow means leading from the chamber into the tank interior at a point an appreciable distance above said normal bottom and constituting a high level liquid inlet, and, a gravity responsive ball type valve in the outlet between the two valve seats adapted to seat against either seat, depending upon the degree of tilt, of the tank, and provided with a pendulum type weight extending through the lower valve seat and into the chamber and arranged to swing universally to alimited extent within said chamber. 1 7. An outletunit adapted for use in connec tion with a tiltable liquid containing tank'and comprising means adjacent the normal bottom of' the tank forming an outlet, liquid conducting means leading from the outlet into the tank at a point adjacent said normal tank bottom and forming a low level liquid inlet, a standpipe;

'. having one end thereog communicating with said outlet and its other and leading into thetank interior at a point an appreciabledistance above. said normal bottom and constituting a high level liquid inlet, gravity responsive valve means oper able automatically selectively to con,-

.trol' the flow of liquid" through the inlets to the outlet according to the tilt position of the tank, and an auxiliary tubular inlet member connected to said other end of the standpipe and arranged to swing by gravity back and forth between the normal bottom and top of the tank in response to tilting of said tank. i

8.. An outlet unit adapted for use in connection with a tiltable liquid containing tank and 7 I 5 with said outlet and its other end terminating adjacent the normal top of the tank, and constituting a high level liquid inlet, gravity responsive means operable automatically selectively to control the flow of liquid from the inlets to the outlet according to the tilted position of the tank, an auxiliary pipe section pivotally connected to said other end of the standpipe and arranged to swing by gravity back and forth between said normal bottom and top of the tank in response to tilting of the tank, and

means for limiting swinging movement of said pipe section.

ROMUS SOUCEK. 

